This article was co-authored by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she received the Most Outstanding Resident award.

There are 23 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

It’s normal for your vagina to have a slight odor. But if you feel your vagina has a strong odor, such as a fishy smell or an unpleasant smell, it could be a symptom of another health issue or problem.[1] The odor may be accompanied by other symptoms like itching, burning, irritation, or vaginal discharge.[2] In general, if you have vaginal odor without other symptoms, the odor may not be abnormal.[3] There are several common infections found in your vagina that could cause an unpleasant odor or smell, and you can try home remedies as well as professional products to get rid of the odor fast.

Steps

Method1

Practicing Good Vaginal Hygiene

1

Do not douche. Douching, which is when you force water or a cleaning agent in your vagina, can actually remove the healthy bacteria in your vagina and can push an infection (if one is present) into your uterus, making your condition worse.[4]

You should also avoid feminine sprays, which are another form of douching that can irritate your vagina or lead to an allergic reaction.

Remember that your vagina naturally cleans itself. As long as you practice good vaginal hygiene, you should not have to force clean it or interfere with its natural cleaning process.

2

Rinse your vagina during your shower or bath. Be sure to keep your vaginal area clean by using water and mild, unscented soap, like Cetaphil, to rinse your vagina, including your labia.[5]

Avoid using harsh soaps on your vagina, with scents, as they can irritate the delicate skin in this area.

3

Wear loose clothing and cotton underwear. This will increase airflow to your groin, especially when you are working out or sweating and prevent moisture buildup, which can then reduce any odors due to sweating or bacteria.[6]

You should also change out of your workout clothing as soon as you are finished your workout. Do not keep wet, sweaty clothes on any longer than necessary, as this can lead to unpleasant odors.

Always wear clean underwear every day to prevent bacteria growth and odor.

4

Wipe front to back after going to the bathroom. Prevent spreading bacteria from your bottom to your vagina by wiping from the front to the back after a bowel movement. This will ensure your vagina is free of bacteria that could cause odors and a possible infection.[7]

5

Change your tampon or pad every four to six hours. Practice good period hygiene by being diligent about changing your tampon or pad every four to six hours. This will prevent a buildup of odor and ensure your vagina does not get irritated during your menstrual cycle.[8]

Changing your tampon frequently will also ensure you do not forget to remove your tampon, which can cause an unpleasant odor and possibly serious health issues.

Method2

Using Diet and Natural Remedies

1

Eat yogurt to promote the growth of yeast. Yogurt contains naturally formed probiotics that can help balance your bacterial secretions in your vagina and in the rest of your body. If you have recurring yeast infections, eating yogurt every day is good, healthy option for eliminating vaginal odor caused by yeast infections.[9]

Check that the yogurt contains live and active cultures to ensure it will help your body produce more yeast.

2

Avoid eating odor causing foods. Eating certain foods and drinks can actually change your vaginal smell, as the foods you consume can cause your body to release certain odors. If you are concerned about your vaginal odor, avoid drinking coffee and alcohol. You should also avoid onions, food made with strong spices, red meat, or dairy.[10][11]

Keep in mind you would need to consume a high amount of these foods to change your vaginal secretions enough to cause a strong odor. You can try to eliminate these foods and drinks from your diet to see if you notice a reduction in the odor.

3

Take a hot salt and vinegar bath. One natural remedy is adding half a cup of white vinegar and half a cup of salt in a warm bath. You can then soak in the salt and vinegar bath to help eliminate the odor and restore the pH of your vaginal area.[12]

However, this treatment may be best for short term treatment as it may not get rid of the vaginal odor completely.

4

Use an herbal supplement. The herbal supplement Femanol is formulated to help women get rid of vaginal odor and stop vaginal infections like bacterial vaginosis. This supplement contains garlic, neem bark extract, biotin, zinc, selenium, and Lactobacillus Acidophilus. Femanol claims to help re establish the good bacteria in your vagina and help your immune system fight off any infections.[13]

Keep in mind herbal supplements can be expensive and are not regulated by the Federal Drug Administration, so manufacturers are not required to demonstrate that they are effective. They should be used with caution.

Method3

Identifying the Cause of the Odor

1

Note if you have a fishy odor, gray or white discharge and a burning sensation when urinating. These are all symptoms of bacterial vaginosis (BV), a common vaginal infection. There is no known cause of BV, but it can lead to an overgrowth of normally occurring vaginal bacteria and an infection.[14]

Many women display no symptoms of BV other than an unpleasant odor. Your doctor can confirm you have BV during a check up.

Check if you have a foul odor and yellow or green discharge. You may also experience pain when you urinate. These are symptoms of trichomoniasis, a sexually transmitted infection caused by a parasite. Men who have trichomoniasis usually display no symptoms, so both partners should be treated for this STI once it is diagnosed.[15]

You should always practice safe sex and use condoms to reduce your risk of getting trichomoniasis.

3

Note if you have a yeast-like smell and thick, white discharge. You may also experience itching, soreness, and a burning sensation when you urinate or have intercourse. These are all symptoms of a yeast infection. This infection occurs when there is an overgrowth of yeast in your vagina.[16]

4

Check if you have a strong odor and watery discharge. These could be signs that the odor is due to hormonal changes during menstruation or between ovulation and your next period. You are susceptible to unpleasant vaginal odors during these stages of your cycle.[17]

Depending on your age and your medical history, you could also be experiencing another hormonal change: menopause. Women can experience a smelly, watery discharge during menopause.

5

Notice if you have an odor after you work out or sweat. When your whole body sweats, your vagina can end up smelling sweaty and unpleasant. Your external genitals have a special gland called apocrine sweat glands, which are also found in your armpits, nipples, ear canals, eyelids, and the wings of your nostrils. These glands release an oily fluid that is metabolized by the bacteria on the surface of your skin, thereby letting off a noticeable smell.[18]

Wearing tight clothing and sweating in tight clothing can make the odor worse by trapping sweat and bacteria onto your skin. If you are overweight, it may be difficult for your body to release odors around your groin due to skin folds from excess weight.

6

Make sure you did not forget to remove your tampon. If you forget to remove your tampon, this can cause a buildup of menstrual blood and bacteria. This buildup can irritate your vagina, causing itching and a strong, unpleasant smell and discharge.[19][20]

If you realize you forgot to remove your tampon, you should see your gynecologist immediately. She can safely remove it for you and treat any infection due to the forgotten tampon.

Method4

Seeking Medical Care

1

Talk to your doctor if you think you have bacterial vaginosis. Your doctor will perform a pelvic exam and take a sample of your vaginal secretions to confirm you have BV. She will then prescribe a pill or a cream to help eliminate the infection.[21]

You may receive Metronidazole, a medication available in pill or gel form. Your doctor may prescribe Clindamycin, available in the form of a cream you insert into your vagina. Finally, your doctor may prescribe Tinidazole, which can be taken orally.

Avoid drinking alcohol while on Metronidazole and Tinidazole and for at least one day after completing treatment with either drug.

Recurrence of BV symptoms within three to 12 months of treatment is common. If your symptoms recur, talk to your doctor about other treatment options.

2

Get prescribed medication from your doctor for trichomoniasis. Your doctor will test a sample of your vaginal fluid to confirm you have this STI. She will then prescribe one megadose of either metronidazole or tinidazole. If you have a sexual partner, you and your partner should both be treated for trichomoniasis.[22]

Avoid sexual intercourse until one week after treatment, when the infection is cured. You should not drink alcohol 24 hours after taking metronidazole or 72 hours after taking tinidazole, as this can cause severe nausea and vomiting.

3

Ask your doctor about yeast medication if you have a yeast infection. Your doctor will perform a pelvic exam and take a sample of your vaginal secretions to confirm you have a yeast infection.[23]

If you have an uncomplicated yeast infection, with mild to moderate symptoms and infrequent episodes of yeast infections, your doctor will prescribe a one time application or one to three day application of an antifungal cream, an ointment, a tablet, or a suppository. Your doctor may also recommend an over the counter treatment.

If you have a complicated yeast infection, where your infection is recurring and your symptoms are severe, your doctor may prescribe a vaginal cream, ointment, tablet, or suppository for seven to ten days. Your doctor may also recommend a maintenance plan to monitor your yeast growth and prevent further yeast infections.

Community Q&A

I am 12 and I'm pretty sure I have a yeast infection. This has been going on for a while and I haven't told anyone. The symptoms I have are white thick discharge, and a fishy smell. What should I do?

AbigailAbernathy

Top Answerer

A fishy smell is not associated with a yeast infection. If your only symptoms are a white, thick discharge with a smell, without itching, irritation, or pain while you urinate, this might be your normal smell and discharge. If you do have any of these other symptoms, ask your parent/guardian to make an appointment with your doctor.

It's normal and healthy to have some odor there, and you probably shouldn't worry about it. You can try using an unscented, mild soap or feminine wash and following the guidelines in the article to stay hygienic.

No. Do not put anything inside your vagina apart from medicines prescribed by a medical professional. Do not wash your vulva with anything other than a mild soap and clean water (or a soap substitute if you have been prescribed one for a skin condition).

During sex, a lot of fluid is introduced into your vagina and that will cause a lot of weird smells and textures. The only way to prevent this is to have the man wear a condom so that one of those fluids is not seminal fluid.

Tips

If there is no infection present, sometimes just a warm bath with plain water a few nights a week is enough to alleviate the concern.

Often, what women think is a vaginal discharge odor is actually just a normal odor from the sweat glands. Also, sometimes the odor is actually from leaking urine, which has many causes but is common after childbearing.

Article Info

This article was co-authored by Lacy Windham, MD. Dr. Windham is a Board Certified Obstetrician & Gynecologist in Tennessee. She completed her residency at the Eastern Virginia Medical School in 2010, where she received the Most Outstanding Resident award.

"This article helped me realize that not only infection can cause your vagina to have
an unpleasant smell; sometimes it is normal to experience that. Thank you, wikiHow."..." more

NK

Ntombovuyo Kelly

Feb 7

"This article helped me a lot. I was clueless about most of the things, like UTIs, what to eat and exercise. Thanks a lot."..." more

WE

Wendy English

Feb 4, 2017

"I have just got my results back from the doctor saying I got an infection, so she gave me some antibiotics. The doctor was also just teaching a bit on how to keep my vaginal and vulva area clean. Another read on this article really helped a lot."..." more

CM

Crisshan Miggins

Nov 26, 2016

"I just thank your for talking about those topics that many people are either too embarrassed or too shy to ask others for fear of judgement. You guys are really helping people like me and so many others. Keep up the good work. Be blessed. : )"..." more

KJ

Kandi Jones

Aug 16, 2016

"It gave me an idea of what could be causing the smell and the irritation which is the soap I love so much. So now I'm going to have to change to the other soap. And keep clean, bath twice a day and eat normal. Thank you. "..." more

PS

Patrice St. Hilaire

Apr 30, 2017

"Was getting a funny scent from my vagina and was kinda worried. Now I see is the scented soap that I was using happened to get in there. Thanks so much, I also learned a great deal about remedies as well."..." more

A

Anonymous

Oct 23, 2016

"It's so informative and helpful as it covered clearly how to get rid from vaginal odor whether through natural remedy or medicines, it's proper hygiene & entire care."..." more

A

Anonymous

Dec 13, 2016

"I usually douche a lot to avoid vaginal odor, especially when making love, but from the article I just learned something."..." more

Rose Idaigon

Jul 9, 2017

"Reading this article has really enlightened me on vaginal hygiene. It's just awesome how delicate the vagina is."